Passion of Death
Chapter 7
by
Lornadane
Disclaimer: All X-men and X-villians are Marvel's characters. Please don't sue me. This was just fun to write. Aerin is my character.
Notes: If you're offended by this material I apologize. I don't condone non-consensual sex, this just fit into the story. It's pure fantasy and would not wish it to happen to anyone in reality.
Jubilee watched in a nervous silence as Wolverine mangled one fighter robot after another. He was in a rage, and it was making her more than a little frightened. She had seen his temper before, had even been witness to several of his beserker rages. She knew he could get out of control. But this time he seemed to be staying in control of his madness, yet seriously wanting to tear apart something, anything to release his pent up emotions. Maybe even her she wondered, causing her stomach to do a double flip into her abdomen. So she stood quietly just inside the entrance to the Danger Room, waiting for a chance to speak her mind. Wondering if this was the right time. She hoped he hadn't seen her, but felt certain he was aware of her presence.
Wolverine slammed his claws into the head of another robot, and then pulling back, he decapitated it. He saw one coming at him on his right and he swung a foot out to slam it back, halfway across the room. He was furious. Mainly at himself. She had been terrified, terrified of him. All he wanted to say to her, all the apologies he had played over and over in his mind had gone to waste. He was helpless against her fear. Hank would protect her, making sure Logan wouldn't get close to her unless she allowed him. Her fear would keep him at bay. He turned and snatched the robot coming at him from behind and lifting it above his head threw it toward the door with a roar. Jubilee ducked out of the way just moments before it impacted against the wall. It shattered into pieces. Logan, surprised by Jubilee's appearance, so intent on destruction, stopped in his tracks. A robot grabbed his arm then, but recovering from the surprise, he slung it away in a fury, and ran to the override button near the door. The rest of the robots came to a grinding halt.
"What's a matter with ya, kid?!" he asked harshly. "Ya lookin' to get yerself killed?!" Jubilee, feeling her anger rise at his tone, said defensively, "Would it matter to you anyway? You haven't said two words to me since we got back. And don't forget it was me who saved your hairy butt down in the tunnels, Mr. Death's-taking-a-holiday-so-I-can-save-all-the-babes-in-the-world-now!" She glared at him. "Damn!" she thought, "Now I've showed him I'm jealous and he'll probably just laugh at me."
But he only said, "Wha'da ya want me to say?"
He caught her off guard, enough to cause her to speak her mind truthfully. "I want you to tell me what happened. I want to know whatcha did that was so terrible. I wantcha to just talk to me and not be so pissed off at everything and keep it all to yourself. She's okay, she's alive. Nothing you did could have been that horrible."
"Yeah," he answered, scowling, "She's alive. But some things are worse than death. I know. Getting back my adamantium was like that."
"But you survived it." she said with pride in her voice.
"That's what Apocalypse would say, ya know." he shot at her.
"Screw you!" she threw back at him as she marched to the door. "Keep it all to yourself. Be the big shot loner looser. Don't need anybody's help. Go beat up some more robots. They won't offer to help you."
He clenched his fists, grumbling. He wanted to talk, but she was just a kid. A kid who'd been around the world several times, seen things most kids wouldn't see in their lifetime. But still a kid. Could she understand. Or would she judge him as harshly as Jean had, believing him beyond redemption.
"Jubilation, wait." He relented, trying to find the right words to explain. Hoping beyond hope she wouldn't lose her respect for him. "What if you and I were to fight?" he asked, hitting upon an opening of some sort.
She turned and looked at him puzzled. "You and me, here? Now?"
He put his hand to his forehead in frustration, rubbing it. "No." he said, taking a breath to calm himself. Exasperation wouldn't help. "No. Hypothetically speaking. Only your fireworks would be taken away from you, or you wouldn't be a mutant, so ya couldn't blindside me with your explosive power that makes you you." He held up a hand as she started to speak. "Let me finish, Jubes." He paused to see her quiet down, then said. "And suppose, during our fight, I still had my mutant healing factor, my heightened senses, my strength and fighting experience. Who'dya think would win?" He finished looking at her seriously.
"I would!" Jubilee blurted out. "I'd kick your hairy butt into next Wednesday. Cause I'm that good." she snapped her fingers.
Wolverine sighed. Still just a kid. "Really?" he asked, "You'd beat me in a fight without your mutant power?"
She shook her head, sorry she had tried to make light of the situation. Here he was trying to tell her something, trying to explain, just like she wanted and she was making fun. "No." she said remorsefully. "You'd whip my tale."
"I might even kill ya?" he asked, deadly serious.
"Yeah." she whispered. Maybe she'd gone too far. Maybe she wasn't ready to know the truth. But she faced her fear, knowing she couldn't back down now. She had to hear it. She had to know. And he needed so desperately to let it out, to talk to someone. They looked at each other for several minutes, both dreading what would be said next. Finally, Logan broke the silence.
"That's what happened between me and that girl. Apocalypse ordered me to fight her. She had no power to speak of. No real defense. And I beat her almost to death." He pointed to the robot parts strewn across the floor. "Like those. I tore into her like those."
"But Wolvie," Jubilee began in earnest, "you weren't..."
"In my right mind." he finished her sentence for her, nodding. "But I knew what I was doing. I knew it wasn't right. And part of me enjoyed it. Having complete control over someone else. And there was more, Jubilee, much more. Things I did that I hope you can't even imagine. Things I don't want to tell you. Things I don't want to tell anyone. Jean knows and hates me for it. I don't want that to happen to you." he said sadly. "I don't want you to hate me too."
Tears ran down Jubilee's face as she went to him, hugging him tight. "I'd never hate you, Wolvie. Never." she swore. "I may hate what you did, but I wouldn't hate you. You don't have to tell me anymore. And that girl'll be okay. She'll forgive you, once she knows who you really are. So will Jean. I know it."
He hugged her back, feeling better than he had in days. Her optimism was winning him over. Maybe she was right. Maybe they'd all forgive him. Maybe she'd forgive him if he could just speak to her. He kissed Jubilee affectionately on the head. "Thanks, Jubes, thanks."
All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.