Logan said little to the others on the way home, preferring to sit in shadowed silence while the others reviewed the mission into the databanks of the Blackbird. They all assumed he was just tired...after all, Magneto had nearly escaped with Logan as his hostage...but that was because they didn't know him like Ororo did.
She'd watched him furtively throughout the return flight, in between her adjustments to the jet's controls. He sat quietly, staring out the side window into the sunrise with an unreadable expression, his lethal hands clasped loosely between his knees as he watched a new day dawn over the horizon.
They reached the mansion in record time and without incident. Forge radioed to the Blackbird once, to let them know that the Pentagon's transport had arrived and Magneto and company were safely back in custody. That was only time Logan looked up...when Forge's voice crackled over the comlink. Ororo had watched him carefully, wondering what could possibly be bothering him, but Logan's face had remained as stoic as ever. He simply listened quietly, then returned his attention to the ruddy sky.
The jet circled slowly over the mansion, then Cyclops switched it to hover mode and lowered it easily into its waiting hatchway. The morning sky disappeared, replaced by the soft light of the underground hanger, and the team began unbuckling their seat restraints as Cyclops deftly brought the Blackbird to rest once more.
"It's good to be home," he said. He switched off the main power, and the engines sighed into silence. "I feel like I could sleep forever."
"Me too," Jean groaned.
Logan moved past them and pressed the button for the gangway hydraulics, the hatch opening with a hiss into the muted light of the hanger. Without waiting for the others, he stalked down and headed for the door, unzipping his uniform as he went.
Scott and Jean didn't seem to notice, but Ororo ran after him lightly. "Hey," she called, catching up with him as he yanked off his gloves. "Are you okay?"
He glanced at her briefly, never slowing his pace. "I'm fine. Just tired."
"What are you going?"
"To take a shower, then go to bed." He strode into the hall and stopped before the uniform cases, yanking out a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.
"Logan, what's the matter?" she asked softly.
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"I told you, I'm just tired," he replied shortly.
He turned to go into the showers, but the hurt look on her face stopped him. He sighed, his face softening a little.
"You should go to bed, too, you know," he muttered.
"I will, but not until you tell me what's the matter." She bit her lip uncertainly. "Did I do something?"
Logan looked at her a moment longer, as if thinking about a reply, then he pushed open the door to the locker rooms and left her alone, standing quietly in the hall.
* * * * *
Logan did exactly as he said. He took a long, hot shower, allowing the water to sluice away the tension in his muscles, then he toweled off, dressed himself in the sweatpants and T-shirt, and went straight to bed...his own bed. He saw no reason to go to Ororo's room, at least not in his present state of mind. Far better to get some well-deserved sleep...there was plenty of time later for...well, for whatever might happen.
Sleep was slow in coming, though...even as exhausted as he was, every time he closed his eyes he could still see Ororo and Forge, standing close to each other, her lips pressed to the dark skin of his cheek.
He tossed and turned, finally settling into an uneasy slumber. Thankfully, his old nightmares did not return, but his face was still set in harsh lines, his body twitching as he dreamed that he was searching for something, or someone...and just as he found what he was looking for, a dark figure came and stole it away...over and over again.
When he woke up again, there was bright sunlight shining through his bedroom window. Someone was knocking softly at the door...he sat up with a groan and ran his fingers through his hair, then got out of bed with a sigh and unlocked the door.
"Yeah?" He paused, staring down at Ororo's upturned face...and he swallowed hard. Dear God, she looked beautiful...she was wearing faded jeans and a tight white blouse, and her white hair was pulled back in a thick ponytail with a brightly colored silk scarf. Logan fought to keep his face carefully blank, but Ororo only smiled at him and raised her eyebrows curiously.
"Are you planning on sleeping today away as well?" she asked.
So...she still hadn't figured it out yet. He left the door open and walked away from her.
"What are you talking about?" he asked irritably.
"You've been asleep over twenty-four hours," she replied.
He stared at her. "Why in the hell didn't somebody wake me up?" he asked.
She shrugged and clasped her hands behind her back like a little girl. "You were in such a bad mood, I made everyone let you sleep," she said. "I thought you could use the rest."
"I wasn't in a bad mood," he muttered.
Ororo laughed. "Yes, you were...and you still are, by the sound of it." She sat on the side of the bed, watching him with a curious expression.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"Are you ready to tell me why you're acting like an ass?"
He scowled at her.
"Maybe...if..."
"If what?"
Fine, darlin', he thought. You ready to play? Then I'm ready too.
"If you're ready to tell me why you were talking to Forge in the middle of the night," he snapped.
"You mean, before the mission?" Her delicate eyebrows lifted slightly. "So, that's what this is all about."
Logan said nothing, only watching her instead as she visibly relaxed.
"Logan, I went out for a walk because I couldn't sleep, and I stumbled on Forge out in the yard," Ororo replied. "We just happened to be talking when Jean called us for the mission."
Logan was surprised, but he didn't show it...although what she was saying sounded innocent enough. God, how he wanted to believe her...but fifteen years of not trusting people made it a hard habit to break.
"Awfully convenient, wouldn't you say?" he growled instead.
The look on her face was a mixture of love, frustration, and maybe a little amusement. "Oh, Logan," she sighed, standing up and coming towards him. He could smell her sweet fragrance as she moved closer...he turned to walk away...good God, if she touched him again he would be lost...but she stopped him with a touch like silk on his arms. He closed his eyes painfully as she pressed against his back, wrapping her slender arms around him tightly.
"It was an accidental meeting, Logan...honest," she continued, speaking softly against his back. "If it makes you feel any better, the conversation ended up in a big fight."
"A little better, maybe."
His muscles were still tensed beneath her touch. "Something else is bothering you, isn't it?" she asked softly.
He was silent for a long while, then he sighed.
"Why'd you kiss him, 'Ro?" he asked softly.
"When?"
"After the mission was over."
She startled him by laughing quietly against his shirt. "Why, Logan...I do believe you're jealous!"
"I'm not..." he began.
"I had no idea you were so possessive," she said, peeking at him over his shoulder with a disbelieving grin.
He opened his mouth to contradict her, then he thought about it and sighed instead. "Okay, so maybe I am," he murmured. One of his hands drifted up to her arm, caressing it lightly.
Ororo smiled and moved around to face him, pulling gently on his arms until he placed them around her waist. The neckline of her blouse dipped slightly, giving him a tantalizing view of the soft swell of her breasts...Logan pulled her close, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her hair.
"I'm surprised you haven't figured me out better than that, darlin'," he murmured. "If you didn't know it before, you'd better know it now."
"Know what?" she asked softly, pressing her breasts against him through the thin fabric of her blouse.
"I...don't...share," he said. He bent his head and kissed her neck, one rough hand stealing up to stroke her breast lightly.
"I'll try to remember that," she laughed. "I'll file it alongside 'runs with sharp objects' and 'doesn't play well with others.'"
He chuckled against her neck, then his expression grew serious again as his hands tightened around her. "Why'd you do it, 'Ro?" he asked softly, not waiting for an answer before kissing her neck again.
"Do what?" she asked, closing her eyes against the delicious feel of his lips against her throat.
"Kiss Forge."
"It was on the cheek, Logan," she murmured. "He saved our lives."
"Wouldn't a handshake do just as well?"
She giggled, pressing against the growing hardness she could feel through his sweatpants. "I would have done the same for Scott."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" He gently brushed her ear with his lips, the roughness of his beard making her shiver.
"Don't do it to me again, 'Ro..." he said.
"Okay." His touch was rapidly making it hard for her to think. "I'm sorry...I didn't know it would upset you like that," she murmured.
"I thought you were trying to tell me..." he began, then he stopped, his voice trailing off into uncertain silence.
"What?"
"Aw, hell, I don't know..."
"That I didn't want you anymore?" she asked. Logan lifted his head and looked at her, then moved closer and stole her breath with a ravaging kiss.
"Yeah, something like that," he whispered against her lips.
She pulled away from him, long enough to close and lock the bedroom door, then she turned to face him with a seductive smile. He watched, holding his breath, as she began unbuttoning her blouse. One button, two buttons...Logan swallowed hard. Jumped up Jesus, she wasn't wearing a bra.
"Does it look like I don't want you?" she purred.
Logan sprang across the room with astonishing speed, grabbing her around the waist and crushing her against his body. He bent his head to hers and kissed her hard, forcing her mouth open, tasting her with his tongue as if making up for lost time. Ororo's hands clutched at his shoulders, his powerful muscles flexing under her slender fingers as his hands slid down her hips and over the soft curve of her ass. With a smooth movement he lifted her off her feet, their bodies pressed together with her long legs wrapped around his waist.
Logan carried her like that across the floor to the bed without ever breaking their kiss. She slid her hands into his tousled hair, returning his kisses with a ferocity he didn't know she had, but far from cooling his desires the frenzied touch of her lips on his only aroused him further. He brought his knees up and knelt on the bed, lowering her to the blankets as he stretched his body over hers, and she tightened her legs around him and rubbed against his erection, her back arched against the pillows as she lost herself in the sensation.
He sat back on his heels, yanking his T-shirt off so quickly it tore. Ororo sat up with him and helped him shove off the pants as well, their fingers clumsy with the urgency of their undressing.
Once his clothes were gone, he gently pushed her back on the bed, moving over her with the controlled stalk of a panther. One hand stole up to the scarf in her hair, and he gently freed it from its knot, her beautiful hair spilling down over the pillows and around her face as he wrapped his fingers around the silky softness of the scarf's material. His other hand stroked her breast, bringing the dark nipple into his mouth where he sucked it hungrily. Ororo moaned, closing her eyes and biting her lip...the look on her face was making Logan nearly senseless with lust.
Take it easy, Logan, he told himself. Otherwise you're not gonna last two seconds.
He leaned close to her ear, whispering. "Wanna try somethin' new, darlin'?"
The rasp of his husky voice in her ear made her tremble all over...she nodded, and he grinned wickedly and kissed her again.
"That's my girl..."
He slowed down, trying desperately to control himself, and gently lifted both of her arms over her head, tearing his mouth away from her for the briefest moment. She watched him, her dark eyes half-lidded as he crossed her arms at the wrist and wound the silk scarf around them, then around the slats of the headboard, lashing her to the bed.
"Too tight?" he whispered.
She pulled lightly against the scarf. It was secure, but not so much that she couldn't get free if absolutely necessary.
"No...not at all."
"Good." He sat up and began unfastening her jeans, tugging them off her with a smooth movement, along with the red satin panties she wore beneath. He cocked an eyebrow at her and grinned when he saw them, making her giggle a little breathlessly.
"Red satin, huh?" he asked, tossing them to the side.
"You like?" she asked.
"Me like." He slid his rough hands over the soft skin of her calves, his eyes drinking in her naked body.
"Red satin...and skin like silk..." he murmured. "What else you got for me?"
She smiled seductively and trailed a delicate foot over the muscles of his chest.
"Come here and find out."
He chuckled darkly and moved over her, allowing his hands to slip over the smoothness of her thighs as he pressed against her. His fingers slipped under her knees, pulling her legs up as he moved between them, and then her legs were hooked over his shoulders as he cupped her ass in his hands. Logan shifted her body slightly, then she gasped as he slid inside her to the hilt with one single, powerful thrust.
"Oh, Logan..." she moaned. He growled and withdrew slightly, only to impale her once again. She bit back a shriek of ecstacy...Logan's hands gripped her legs tightly as he pumped into her again and again, their bodies tight and trembling as they moved against each other. He looked like a Greek god, trapping her legs in his powerful hands, his lips drawn back in an exquisite snarl as he ravaged her body...Ororo moaned and strained against the silk scarf binding her, desperate to touch him...watching the tautness of his stomach and chest muscles as he thrust within her.
He dropped her legs and pressed the length of his body against her, reaching up and grabbing the headboard on either side of her bound hands. The headboard gave him leverage...he moved harder and faster now, the muscles of his arms tight from the power of his grip, his face close to hers...he kissed her again, hard and insistent, and she wrapped her legs around him tightly and met him thrust for thrust...but somehow she sensed he was still holding back...holding back...
I can take it, Logan, she thought to herself, breathless with desire. And I want it...she lifted her head slightly, her lips inches from his ear as she whispered...
"Logan..." she whispered huskily. "Let go, Logan, just this once..."
"What..?"
"Don't hold back from me..."
"No..." he growled, his breath harsh as he moved against her. "You don't know what you're asking..."
"Yes, I do," she murmured, her eyes as sultry and dark as obsidian. "Give me Wolverine..."
He was fighting, fighting the primal need...but then she whispered that name between them and the last wall broke down...Logan's hands slid over hers, and with a sudden quick movement the knot binding them was gone. She freed her hands from the silken restraints and slipped her hands over his shoulders, scratching his skin with her nails, scraping at his hard flesh, and he sped up the rhythm of his thrusts, holding on to her with an iron grip. The bed groaned in protest, then the headboard began to slam against the wall with the heated ferocity of his movements. He thrust against her harder and harder, sweat glistening on his skin, shining on his muscles as he ground his hips against hers, a vicious, tortured snarl ripping from his throat as the beast within him broke free at last.
"Yes! Yes!" Ororo was screaming now, careless of who might hear, only dimly aware of the loud tattoo the headboard was making against the wall...his shoulders were tight, hard...Ororo flicked her tongue against his straining flesh, licking the salt of his skin...
Logan snarled, his harsh voice terrifying and thrilling at the same time...Ororo couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but hold on, tense as a bowstring as the now-familiar pleasure-pain began to peak. Now...now...
"Oh Goddess!" she shrieked, and Logan fairly howled in answer. His head was thrown back, cords of muscle standing out on his neck, and she found herself biting down on his shoulder, screaming against the hot waves of orgasm that were coursing through her. Logan tore away from her then, his hands holding her head as he groaned and shuddered against her, kissing her mouth so hard it felt like a bruise. She clung to him...he was murmuring in her ear, over and over with a voice as hoarse and gutteral as a wild animal, murmuring words only wild creatures understand.
But she understood...child of the storm...she was a creature of the wilds as well.
He collapsed against her in a tangle of sweat and hot, glistening skin. Ororo closed her eyes and wrapped her legs around him tightly, trapping him inside her...her hands slid over his back, then her eyes fluttered open in surprise as her fingers touched something wet and slightly sticky on his shoulders...
"Oh, no, Logan," she murmured, distressed. "I...I scratched you. You're bleeding."
Logan gently reached up and pulled her hands away from his already healing skin, pressing the delicate fingertips to his mouth.
"I liked it," he whispered huskily.
She was panting quietly now, her hair damp with sweat, her eyes heavy and drowsy as she watched his handsome face. He had his head lowered, dark tendrils of hair tumbling into his eyes as he kissed her fingers, then her palm...then he looked up at her from beneath those arched eyebrows and she felt her stomach flip-flopping all over again.
"Love you..." she murmured softly.
"Love you too," he whispered. The Wolverine was gone again...Logan brought her palm to his cheek, closing his eyes against her gentle touch as she stroked his beard stubble.
A sudden thought seemed to occur to him, and he chuckled quietly.
"What is it?" she asked, smiling.
He shook his head, watching her with amazement and more than a little admiration. "Are you okay?"
"Yes...why?"
"Nothing." He chuckled again, tracing the contours of her face with a gentle finger. "I just didn't think you had it in you, that's all."
She raised an eyebrow. "I told you before...I'm just full of surprises."
"I believe you." He laughed and rolled over, rubbing his shoulder, then he glanced at the small streaks of blood on his fingers. "Hmph...damn, darlin', you play hard!"
She rolled over with him, leaning across his chest with her arms draped over him gently. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"Don't be." He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. "I like a girl that can keep up with me."
She widened her eyes coquettishly. "I don't know if that's possible, Professor Logan."
"Oh, its Professor again, now, is it?" He flashed her a devilish grin, rolling over on his side and pulling her close, where she gasped in surprise at his returning erection. "So what kind of lesson do you want to have now?"
Her smile was slow and sensuous as she slipped her arms around his neck. "I would think you'd be too worn out for another lesson today."
He laughed, a low, delicious sound that sent a shiver up her spine. "You're forgettin', darlin'," he whispered huskily. "I heal fast."
* * * * *
Much later, Ororo stood in front of the mirror in Logan's bathroom, brushing her hair. She had to keep wiping the glass, because Logan was taking what had to be the hottest shower known to man, and billows of steam were pouring out over the top of the glass doors.
"I think I understand now what Jean was talking about," Ororo said, raising her voice over the sound of the water stream.
"What's that?" Logan asked.
"Oh, it was just girl talk...but she told me once that she and Scott have the most incredible sex after a mission, and now I think I understand what she was talking about."
There was a long pause from the shower.
"That was way too much information," Logan said finally, amusement tinging his voice.
"Sorry." Ororo laughed and began tying the silk scarf into her hair once more, thinking as she did so that she'd never look at that scarf in the same way again.
"So," Logan said. "Are you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?"
"What you and Forge were talking about."
She sighed and sat down on the lid of the toilet. "Must we talk about him?"
"I just want to know what he said to you," Logan replied. He poked his head out of the shower for a minute, his hair standing up in wild, soapy bunches and a wicked grin on his face. "C'mon, admit it..." He winked. "You talked about me."
She covered her mouth and giggled. "You look really silly."
"Yeah?" He ducked back into the shower, chuckling. "You said your talk ended up in a fight. So what did he say to you?"
She took a deep breath, suddenly serious. "I don't think you want to know."
"If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked."
Ororo was quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again her voice was barely audible over the sound of the shower.
"He said you were using me," she murmured.
There was a long silence from the shower. She waited patiently, wondering if he'd heard her. Water splashed, then the knobs squeaked as he turned off the water.
Logan opened the opaque glass door of the shower and stood looking at her, his hair slicked back darkly, rivulets of water running over the taut hardness of his muscles. His eyes were unreadable, black as night as he reached out and grabbed a towel from the rack beside him.
"Do you believe him?" he asked finally, his voice low and dangerously calm.
She watched him in silence, remembering everything Forge had said as she weighed her response...and then she slowly shook her head, a beautiful smile spreading across her face. This was Logan...the same Logan that had danced with her. The Logan that had given her orchids, and taken her out for ice cream, and loved her in more ways than she could count, even before she knew his love had a name....
"No," she said finally. "No, I don't believe him."
His features softened, and he ducked his head, toweling off quickly.
"Good," he said, stepping out of the shower and pulling her into his slightly damp arms.
"Ugh!" she said, laughing. "You're still wet!"
Logan swatted her behind playfully and released her, walking with a casual grace into the bedroom. He stopped in the middle of the floor, using the towel to dry his head, while Ororo leaned against the doorframe and watched his naked, well-muscled body with more than a little appreciation...he threw the damp towel on the bed, stretched, then turned to look at her curiously.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," she replied, giving him a small smile.
He crossed the room slowly, the feral grace that came so naturally to him making her heart beat a little faster. He took her chin in his hand and gently turned it up to look him in the face.
"Something's still bothering you, ain't it?" he asked.
She didn't reply, and he bent his head and lightly kissed her lips. "I'm nothing like Forge, darlin'...you just keep rememberin' that, okay?"
She laughed softly and returned his kiss. "As long as you don't break off any engagements where I'm concerned, I don't think it will be hard to tell you two apart."
"Well, I don't think you have to worry about that," he said. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then walked back to retrieve his towel. "I wouldn't ask you to marry me, 'Ro...so no problems there."
"Oh?" She was still smiling, but somehow the smile seemed to have left her eyes...Logan cocked his head to the side, watching her, then he shrugged and decided he must have imagined it.
"Nah," he continued. "I'm not exactly a marryin' kind of guy."
She looked away then, and Logan decided her smile did look a little frozen. "No, I suppose not," she murmured quietly, then she lifted her head, her eyes overly bright. "Well, I'll be going downstairs now...my class starts soon, and Jubilee wanted me to meet her before class."
He reached out and touched her arm as she moved to open the door. "Hey," he said softly. "You okay?"
"Yes, of course," she replied. She wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no, I'm fine," she said, giving him the strangely fake smile. "I just need to go...I promised Jubilee, and I don't want to be late."
"Yeah. I'll see you later, then."
Ororo waited until Logan wrapped the towel around his waist, then she opened the door and hurried away without a backward glance. Logan watched her go, experiencing that universal sensation that every male...animal, vegetable, or mutant...is sure to feel at one time or another. The feeling that in some way, somehow...they have severely pissed off the female of the species.
"Women," Logan muttered, and he let the door slam shut.
* * * * *
Ororo stopped by the library long enough to pick up her books and notes for her literature class, then she started down the short hall to the solarium classroom where she taught. The hall was lined with floor to ceiling windows, covered only in sheer curtains, and the sunlight shining through them was both warm and welcome.
She rounded the corner, lost in her thoughts...and almost stumbled over Forge.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. He had been coming the other way, and she put out her hands to avoid hitting him, spilling her books and papers from one side of the hall to the other.
"Ororo!" Forge seemed to be as surprised as she was. "Here, let me help you."
He knelt with her and helped her retrieve her belongings, but when she reached for them he shook his head and smiled. "No, let me," he said. "I'll carry them...where are you going?"
"To my classroom, right there." She pointed at the door of the solarium.
"All right."
She looked at him uncertainly, but then she smiled and finished walking to her classroom, Forge falling into step beside her. The door of the room was standing open, and she moved around the circle of desks to her own desk at the front, where Forge placed her stuff carefully.
"Thank you, Forge," she said.
He waved his hand. "Don't thank me...I wanted to have an opportunity to talk to you again, anyway."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I did." He grinned a little, then looked back over his shoulder at the open door. "Logan's not going to come barrelling in here at any moment, I hope?"
She surprised them both by laughing. "No, I don't think so."
"Good."
She busied herself with straightening out papers. "What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light.
"Well..." He sat on her desk, keeping one foot on the floor. "I wanted to ask you about what you said, after the mission." Before she could react, one of his hands reached out and caught hers with a gentle touch. "Why you apologized to me," he continued.
She looked at the hand holding hers, biting her lip but not pulling away. "I suppose...because I owed you an apology," she replied softly.
"For what?"
"For not forgiving you, when you were trying so hard to make peace." She looked up at him then, and he was smiling.
"So, I am forgiven, then?"
She smiled back. "Yes...I suppose you are." She squeezed his fingers lightly.
"Even after...what happened between us?"
"It was a long time ago. I'd like to move on," she replied.
"Friends?"
She nodded and smiled. "Friends."
"Maybe..." He traced a light finger over the back of her hand. "More than friends?"
"Oh, Forge..." She pulled her hand free of his with a sigh. "Don't start that again, please? You know that Logan and I...I mean, we..."
Forge blinked once, then smiled and looked at the floor. "I'm sorry. So, it's pretty serious between you two, I gather?"
She seemed to consider his question, her eyes clouded over in thought.
"I...I don't know," she said finally.
His brow furrowed. "What do you mean...you don't know?" When she didn't answer, he shook his head in disbelief. "He sleeps in your room, and you don't know?"
"Forge, please, I...I..." She looked up at him, her own confusion stamped on her face. "I...really don't want to talk about...this...right now."
"Miss Munroe?"
Forge and Ororo looked up to see Jubilee standing at the door, clutching her books and looking at them uncertainly.
"Hello, Jubilee," Ororo replied. "Please, come in. Forge, if you don't mind, I have a tutoring session with Jubilee right now."
"Sure. I was just leaving anyway." He stood up, giving Ororo a last, long look. "If you need to talk...?"
"Okay." She gave him a shaky smile, and he nodded and exited the room.
"You okay, Miss Munroe?" Jubilee asked, once Forge was gone.
No, I'm NOT okay! she wanted to scream, but instead she smiled at Jubilee with all the warmth she could muster.
"Yes...yes, I'm fine," Ororo replied. "So...what would you like me to help you with?"
* * * * *
Roughly thirty minutes later, Rogue and Bobby were sitting in the library, their heads close together as they read excerpts from a large book entitled "The Collected Poems of Lord Byron." Rogue seemed to be caught up in the romantic verse, but Bobby had a confused scowl on his face as he tried to make sense of the balladic meter.
"Oh, God!" he groaned. "This is so boring!"
"Oh, just hush and keep readin', sugah," Rogue replied with some exasperation. "We have tah have this done before class starts, an' it's already aftah one!"
"But I hate this mushy junk!" Bobby said. "I mean, how many love poems can one guy possibly write?"
"There not all love poems, Bobby," she replied. "What about this one? It's about a war."
"Is that what it was about? I wasn't sure, what with all the "hearts of glory" and stuff he kept talking about." Bobby scowled again, but then his face brightened as he looked up and across the room.
"Hey, Miss Munroe!"
"Hello, Bobby...Rogue." Ororo walked over to where they were sitting, a warm smile on her face. "Are you studying?"
"Um, yes," Rogue replied, trying to cover the open pages with her gloved hands and giving Ororo a sheepish grin.
"That wouldn't be the Byron poems I told you to have read for today, would it?" Ororo asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Um, maybe?"
Ororo shook her head in mock disapproval. "I trust you'll have it read before class begins?"
"Yup," they answered in unison, then Rogue craned her neck to see around Ororo, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Hey, Logan!" she chirped brightly.
"Hey, kid." Logan strode into the room easily, the dogtags Rogue had returned to him making a bright spot of silver against the black of his shirt. He grabbed one of the chairs and spun it around, straddling it and resting his chin on the back.
Ororo looked down at Logan, and he winked at her. It was enough to make Rogue's heart flutter a little...but Ororo only gave him a polite smile and nodded.
Uh-oh, Rogue thought. Somebody's in the doghouse.
"Well, I only came in here to see if I left my class planner," Ororo said. "See you in class." Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Logan staring after her, his eyes dark and brooding.
Rogue watched them both, her forehead creased with thinking. "Bobby," she said suddenly. "Would you go find my sweater? I'm a little chilly."
Bobby gave her a funny look. "You just said a minute ago that it was stuffy in here."
Rogue glared at him behind Logan's back, making a shooing gesture with her hands. Bobby stared at her in confusion, then at Logan...then his eyes widened suddenly in understanding and he nodded, scurrying off as fast as his legs could carry him.
Logan watched him go as well, then turned his head slowly to meet Rogue's eyes.
"All raht," Rogue said sternly. "What's goin' on between y'all?"
Logan snorted and glared at the table. "Your guess is as good as mine, kid."
"Well, what did you say tah her, you big dummy?"
"I didn't say anything to her," he sighed.
"Well, how long has she been actin' like this?"
"Since about an hour ago, and now she acts like she doesn't want to talk to me."
"Trust me, sugah," Rogue replied. "When a woman that loves you suddenly doesn't want tah talk tah you, that means you said somethin' tah make her mad."
He scowled at her. "How would you know how she feels about me?"
Rogue rolled her eyes. "Everybody knows, Logan."
"Everybody?"
Rogue grinned. "You betcha, big guy. So, what did you say tah her?"
"I didn't say anything, Rogue," he replied evenly.
"Well, what were y'all talkin' 'bout when she started actin' all funny?"
"Aw, hell, I don't know."
"Think hard."
He scrubbed his face with his hands, groaning with frustration. "Marriage, I think...or something like that."
"Marriage?!" Rogue jumped up in surprise.
"Hey, keep it down, will you?" Logan snapped, grabbing Rogue by the shoulder and shoving her back into her chair. Her eyes were huge, and she leaned close to him, whispering breathlessly.
"Did you propose?" she asked, her eyes shining. "Oh, wow, Logan..."
"Hell, no, I didn't propose!"
"Oh." She sounded dreadfully disappointed. "Then what were you talkin' about?" she asked. "Her engagement to Forge?"
Logan scowled again...how in the hell did Rogue know all this shit?
"Maybe," he replied slowly. "What do you know about it?"
"Oh, everythin'," she replied casually. "Oh, c'mon Logan," she said in response to his surprised look. "It's not lahk everybody don't know everybody else's business 'round here anyway."
He tried to scowl at her, but she smiled so winningly that he found himself grinning back...just a little. "Yeah...we were talking about Forge," he replied.
"Why?"
"She was worried...worried that I would leave her like he did."
"Aww, that's so sweet!" Rogue said, and Logan had to fight to keep from rolling his eyes in exasperation. "So, what did you tell her?"
"I told her not to worry about it," Logan said with a shrug. "Because I'd never propose to her anyway."
"You said what?!"
"Sit down, dammit!" Logan growled, shoving Rogue back into her seat once more. "Sweet smokin' Jesus...what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Oh, Logan," Rogue murmured, shaking her head and staring at him as if he'd suddenly turned green. "Please tell me you didn't say that."
"What?" he asked, frowning at her. "It's true, so why shouldn't I say it?"
She folded her gloved arms over her chest, leaning back in her chair and watching him incredulously.
"You are so seriously fucked, sugah."
"Watch your mouth, kid."
"Sorry." She shook her head again, looking at him with what almost appeared to be pity. "Ah just can't believe you said that tah her, Logan. No wonder she was so upset."
"I'm not following you, Rogue." He folded his arms and regarded her carefully. "I said it to make her feel better."
"Well, if that was your intention, you missed it by a long shot."
"What are you getting at, Rogue?" he asked.
"Ah think you know already, Logan."
This was getting beyond ridiculous...he couldn't believe he was actually having this conversation with Rogue, of all people...
Then a sudden realization dawned. Logan frowned, then looked up at Rogue with a cocked eyebrow.
"Are you saying Ororo wants me to marry her?"
Rogue sighed in exasperation. "It ain't got nuthin' tah do with you marryin' her, Logan. Miss Munroe would be just as happy with you, just the way y'all are." She grinned a little and punched his shoulder lightly. "After all, you ain't exactly marryin' material."
"So what's the problem?" he growled.
Rogue leaned closer, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Don'tcha see, Logan? Miss Munroe don't care none about you proposin', as long as she's got you. But every woman wants to feel like she's somethin' special." Her voice dropped slightly, her wide eyes holding Logan's dark ones. "Somethin' special...special enough to spend the rest of your life with, maybe."
Logan watched her in silence, considering her words.
"Are all women that way?" he asked finally.
"No, but Miss Munroe is," Rogue replied. "Else she wouldn't have got so upset when you said what you did. She felt like you were rejectin' her."
"Well, damn..."
Rogue let Logan mull that over for a minute...when he spoke again, he sounded almost troubled.
"What does she want from me?" he asked softly.
"A commitment, Logan, that's all." Rogue smiled at him then, her eyes sparkling. "Tah know that you'll always be there. That when she kisses you goodnight and falls asleep in your arms, that the next mornin' you'll still be there."
Rogue's words hit him like a slap in the face. Memories came flooding back...several months ago, standing under a starry night on the back porch of the mansion, talking to Jean and trying to make some sense of his feelings for the beautiful Ororo Munroe.
Everything I ever wanted, he had thought. To be able to kiss her, to hold her in my arms and take her to my bed and know that when I open my eyes the next morning she'll still be there...Logan closed his eyes tightly, the weight of how much he must have hurt her finally sinking in.
You did it, he thought sourly. You knew you were going to hurt her, jackass...looks like you've succeeded.
"God, I'm such an idiot," he muttered.
"Nah, just a man," Rogue laughed. She patted his hand with her gloved one, giving him a smile. "You're only an idiot if you don't do somethin' tah fix it."
"Got any ideas?" he asked.
"Ah'm sure you'll think of somethin'."
Logan nodded and stood up. Rogue watched his movements with dancing eyes, and he grinned in spite of himself and reached out to ruffle her white-streaked hair.
"Thanks, kid...I need someone to give me hell once in awhile."
"No problem, Logan. It was mah pleasure."
"Oh, yeah?" He grinned a little wider. "How'd you get so smart, anyway?"
"Just lucky, Ah guess." She blushed, then glanced at her watch and gasped. "Oh, gosh...its almost two. Ah've got tah get tah class!"
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